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Lead by Patricia Areán, a UW Medicine researcher in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, the team conducted two studies.

The first study used a group of older adults (ages 60+) who suffered from late-life depression. The group was randomized into groups that received Project: EVO and those that received in-person therapy treatment known as problem-solving therapy.

The study showed that those who played the game five times a week for 20 minutes or more saw mood and brain improvements as well as an increase in cognitive benefits.

A second study randomized 600 people diagnosed with mild or moderate depression into three groups of three different depression apps: Project: EVO, a problem-solving therapy app, or a placebo control (an app called Health Tips, which offers healthy life suggestions.)

People with mild depression saw greater improvements after using Project: EVO and the problem-solving app over the placebo.

“These results provide great potential for helping people who don’t have the resources to access effective problem solving therapy,” Dr. Areán told Science Daily. “The apps should be used under clinical supervision because without a human interface, people were not as motivated to use it.”

Project: EVO is currently undergoing multiple clinical trials for use in cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury and ADHD.